Tag Archives: avocado

Winter is coming. So proclaims that show as well as your calendar. Throughout the years, cat guardians would welcome the colder months with soft mittens ‘cause it meant that kitty will be free of fleas for a while. But times are a-changing like that cool guy sings and the weather is becoming more and more unpredictable; places that should be freezing feel like spring and hurricane ridden areas can’t seem to get a break from rain. All these changes mean that annoying fleas (except for Pete the Flea that seems to be MIA… are you still with us?) have more time to escape the backyard and hang out in your lovely feline.

Okay, what do you do now? There are ways to keep your home and cat free of uninvited guests (and remember, indoor only cats can also be affected ‘cause the little monsters cling to your shoes when you go out!):

The natural way:
• bathing your felines regularly using warm water and feline shampoo
• vacuuming and laundering your home every week
• making friends with worms, fire ants and ladybugs in your yard ‘cause they all eat the fleas and their larvae

With help from science:
• cat-specific topical solutions that kill the bastards and get rid of eggs that may be developing

Before making any decision, please consult with your vet. Chances are he or she will probably recommend doing all of the above. There are a few topic solutions in the market, including a new one called Bravecto, that according to studies protects your cat for over 12 weeks. But like any medication it has some side effects that may affect your kitty, so if yours is extremely allergic or you don’t feel comfortable with the treatment, stay on the natural solution side. The end result is to enjoy relaxed-unaltered-napping all year long.

To those that have gone far away and the ones still waiting for their chance of a happy life.

A Gato Avocado Comments Feature

Way back in the day, those animals you now call pets were used to help humans around the farm. Then you guys let them come inside, making themselves comfy, slowly learning your ways, melting your hear and becoming part of the family. The length of time we get to enjoy each other’s company varies quite a bit, but no matter how long or short it is, when that time comes to say goodbye it’s clear that you’re not only losing a pet, you’re saying goodbye to your best friend. It is never easy.

How to deal with that pain? Well, it’s different for everyone. Some cry for days; others go and adopt a new pet, the creative ones, make art. A member of that group, Ayda Keshtkar sent her kitties to space!

Spacecats by Ayda Keshtkar. Photo: Glorimar Anibarro

The art installation“Spacecats” was part of the Burning Man festival in Nevada this year. There, deep in the playa, the rocket landed and 3 awesome – and I mean ultra cool – castronauts (Captain Stargo, Ambassador Floyd and Q) left the aircraft to explore the land, equipped with food, litter, toys and of course catnip. Names of kitties gone to other dimensions were stamped all over the spaceship; clear sign that love transcends space and time, one that stays with you forever.

A catstronaut is always prepared. Photo: Glorimar Anibarro

Those felines were lucky living full lives filled with love and adventure. Millions of others are still waiting for that chance. Today we celebrate #RememberMeThursday, a global awareness campaign shining a light on all those pets still in shelters, many of them dying in them never knowing what is like to live in a home. A day to light a candle to let them know they’re not forgotten. A day to take action and help them find a family.

Ah! The realities of the cat guardian: Buying toys for kitty, coming home all excited about seeing kitty play with her new toy, only to have their illusions crushed when she prefers the box the whole thing came in. Don’t feel bad. Your intentions are awesome, but you need to understand that your feline is not impressed by bright colors and cool print patterns, she’s intrigued with the object’s texture, the way it feels in her paw; and if its catnip infused, then it’s love at first bite!

Purrfectplay toys are made from 100% organic fibers, soft and fluffy, just like the prey your indoor cat wishes she could still catch. All natured-approved. No plastics, no dyes, no synthetic. Which means that they are safe to use for kitties of all ages. Did we mention lots of them are filled with organic catnip? I mean, what else can a cat ask for?

Well funny you ask (I know it was me but you get it anyway)… Purrfectplay toys not only makes pets happy, they also help the community by donating 5% of each sale to rescue organizations and try to keep their carbon footprint as small and light as a feline’s strut by contributing to local and regional land preservation groups.

Want proof?

Case 1: Check out the very bored 11 year old and kinda Gato Avocado doppleganger, James.

If they make even less-than-young cats find their inner kitten, they must be doing something right. Check them out! To learn more about the toys and the amazing people that make them, visit their site.

Disclosure: I received Purrfectplay toys and catnip to review at no charge. I didn’t get any cash for writing this post. Not that it matters ‘cause you know how cats just don’t care if we get paid or not, we will do whatever we want 😀

Today more than ever, pets are considered as a big part of the family and as such they need to be protected. ePetsure.com helps you with the process. A review by Gato Avocado.

A responsible pet parent is the one that gives the animal a safe home, the right food, unconditional love and of course, keeps her healthy. The old assumptions that “Pets don’t last forever” and “It was her time” have been replaced with the much better “Our pet is part of the family and we want him to have a long, healthy life.” To enjoy those long years, your BFF needs health insurance.

Now, before you ask: is this really necessary?, the answer is YES. You can have the healthiest of pets, but even they can develop illnesses along the way. All it takes is that one time. And your wallet will suffer.

It’s no secret that the concept alone makes you shed more than a cat in August – which one’s the right one? what’s covered? how much?!

Chill man, help is here and it is called ePetsure.com. Created by pet owners like you who got tired of navigating the confusing world of pet insurance and their offers in order to choose the right one for their furry friends. It’s not a pet insurance carrier, it’s an information-packed site that educates the guardians in order to make an unbiased decision about their pet’s healthcare. Because while it’s good to ask your vet or another pet parent for guidance, comparing real facts side by side is the best way to decide.

Nothing makes you nap as soundly as knowing you got insurance. And tuna for dinner. Pic: Glorimar Anibarro

The site collects the basic information of the most popular pet insurance providers and places them in easy to read charts to calm the nervous pet parent. See one you like and wanna know then and there how much it will cost? Click on the “get a quote” button; this will take you to your chosen insurance’s site so you can start the process.

Keep them separated: The “Pet Insurance” section groups together feline or canine specific plans, dividing them into 4 levels, Accident Only, Bronze, Silver and Gold, each with quotes on:

Illness Covered

Deductibles

Coverage

Annual Limit

What does that mean? Insurance terms can give anyone a migraine. Visit ePetsure.com’s Glossary section and learn how to talk the talk in no time. Customer service is also available to answer all your more detailed questions.

It’s not a decision to make in a hurry, but your pet isn’t getting any younger and her vet visits will become more frequent as she ages. Think about it. Learn the facts. Help her be part of your life for many years to come.

Disclosure: I received a fee for writing this review that will keep my belly full for a bit, but my opinion will never be bought.

As cool as it would be to bring your kitty on vacation, sometimes it just can’t happen. So to keep everyone’s sanity intact, plan ahead and leave her in the best care possible.

You’ve been waiting all year for this season: Summertime! Long days, beach attire and a well – deserved vacation J All good and fabulous but, have you planned for your kitty too? ‘Cause unless she’s going with, your planning is not quite done.

That whole thing of “cats can take care of themselves” is a farce. We certainly act like we don’t give a damn if you’re here or not while at the same time give you the “how dare you leave me” look, but that’s only ‘cause we work hard on our craft and we love to cause you extra grief. We are the best actors in the animal kingdom. Need proof? Start by just mentioning the word suitcase. You know the look you’ll get. Check out my buddy Billy here:

I see that suitcase… all cool… LEAVING WITHOUT ME? HOW DARE YOU! Pics by Yencie Ayala

Not good at all! But the ugly truth is that the feline can’t always accompany you on your trips. A few reasons could be:

Whatever the case you need to find someone to take care of kitty while you’re away. And finding the perfect individual is not as easy as you think.

The best solution (and probably the cheapest) is asking a friend to come by and check on her. Bonus points if the friend already knows the cat and gets along with her. If that isn’t the case, invite him/her over a few times so both can get used to one another.

If none of your friends are cat people, you then have to:

obviously get new friends

hire a pet-sitter

This process can take a bit of time so don’t leave it ‘til last minute. There are many online sites to check, also the vet office and your local shelter keep names of people they trust. You want to find someone with good references (that will be checked), experience and most importantly, is liked by your CAT.

Just like that friend who doesn’t know your cat, the pet sitter candidates should visit a couple of times so they can interact with kitty. You know your cat better than anyone, you will know when the right person comes along.

Once the person is hired, he or she has to learn the cat’s routine. Granted, they won’t spend all day with her (unless they’re also housesitting) but the idea is to try to keep her routine as normal as possible: same food, don’t move the litterbox, favorite toys, instructions for medications, etc.

We act all tough… to hide the tears!

You want everything to go smoothly, but life is unpredictable, which means keep important information easy to find:

Social media is filled with pics of cool cats enjoying the outdoors. But wait, aren’t cats supposed happier napping on your bed all day?

Remember the old days when you had to leave your cat home while you went on vacation? Those days are gone dude! More and more people are finding ways to bring their feline companion on their trips… even on the backpacking ones – whaaaaaaaa?. I for one think it’s the coolest thing since tuna-flavored catnip (patent pending). Your cat gets a serious workout while letting out his inner wild feline as she explores new frontiers. But before you pack the cat and go up the mountain, there are some precautions to take care of.

Sharing a memory of that time I found the biggest litterbox everrrr! Pic: Glorimar Anibarro

Kitty is not the type: We may look and act alike but let’s be clear, every cat is different. Your feline may be happier chillin’ at home while you travel (even if she gives you the how-dare-you! look). This kind of adventure is intense and not every pampered kitty is gonna like it.

Training is required: And it starts with the harness. Yes they are incredibly uncomfortable, seriously uncool and no cat really likes to wear it; but it’s the best way to keep her from chasing after every creature on the road. They come in all shapes and sizes so make sure you find one that fits her like a glove.

How to train her? With yummy treats! Kitty let you put it on? Give her a treat. Left it while hanging around the house to get used to it? More treats. Gets so used to it doesn’t even care? Those are some treats you’re giving her! Once she’s ok with the harness, it’s time to go for a walk around the neighborhood. And it will be less of a hike and more of a “stroll with grandma down the street” ‘cause kitty will be checking out every plant, tree, bug and squirrel. Be patient and go at her pace.

The same training goes for her backpack. There’s a style for every type of cat. You probably have to try a few before finding the perfect match.

Kitten Steps: Her first real outing shouldn’t be a weeklong hike down the canyon. You both need to get acquainted with all that new equipment and set up some sort of routine (you know how we love that): her usual food and litter, maybe her favorite blanket inside her carrier or tent – stuff that helps her relax and feel at home.

Cats adjust to the weirdest circumstances; your kitty may just feel right at home sleeping in a tent and following the trail like she’s been doing it her whole life, but the opposite can also happen. And an unhappy cat can get in trouble, even run away. Don’t stress her. If it’s not her cup of tea, again, leave her home with the sitter.

Extra everything: Congrats, your cat loves being outside. Prepare the camera ‘cause there’s gonna be cool pic moments all day long. But all that hiking means kitty is going to burn more energy than normal, so bring extra food and plenty of water. Don’t forget her vet info and First-Aid Kit.

But Gato, would you do it? Dude, my case is different. I am part feral, part culturally aware and part, well, pencil on paper. I go wherever the wind takes me and I love it! Seen so many places that I never thought other felines will check out that this trend makes me a very happy cat.

Don’t run the risk of losing your feline forever. That internal ID is the gadget that will bring him back home.

Summer’s here! And we’re starting our “Sand and Surf Cat” season with the big safety issue: proper ID for your cat. According to our friends at the American Humane Association and HomeAgain, around 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the U.S. every year, with the big majority of them never being reunited with their families. BUT (and it’s a big one) the numbers are changing…

A whopping 52% of dogs and 38% of kitties made it back home. The difference? They were microchipped!

Technology rocks: The collar/name tag combo has been the favorite for generations but the fact is that though it makes your cat a fashionista, it really fails at its job ‘cause:

Us cats are pretty crafty at taking them off

The tag can fall off and we end up all dressed up with no home to go to

And most importantly, the majority of cats are nudist! Yes, we don’t like having all that bling around our necks. It’s distracting, loud and messes with our cool mojo. Not to mention, it announces our presence to all the outside wild animal population. It’s like wearing a big sign saying: “come beat me up!”

Microchipping is a simple, pain free process done at the vet or the shelter. The smaller than a grain of rice device is inserted via injection under your kitty’s skin, usually between the shoulders where we can’t scratch very well. It carries a specific ID number. With that number you have to sign up on the Pet Recovery Service site and add your name, phone and address. That way if kitty finds herself lost in a shelter and scanned, the volunteers there can trace her back to you. It’s high tech family reunion!

Some facts about the microchip:

No, it’s not a GPS: It only carries the ID number, not your cat’s current location.

Keep your Recovery Service up to date on new addresses or phone numbers.

Indoor cats need it too: Very Important! The “my cat is strictly indoor” routine doesn’t apply. Those kitties may roam out on a whim to chase a bird or escaping a scary situation inside like those crazy parties you throw or the terrifying fireworks that burn the sky!

So if you still want to lavish your feline with bling, go ahead. Just make sure she is really protected from the inside too.

*Need more info? Check out the cool infographic from the ASPCA that has declared July 1 as ID Your Pet Day 😀